Over the last year I have been privileged to follow my models from their first, newborn photos, when they could still easily fit in my hand, throughout their milestones, when they could sit up unsupported, up to their first birthday photos, when they were happy to crawl away at the speed of light (some even walk!) and cover me and my camera with their birthday cake, whilst giggling like mad.

I love seeing the growth, how from just a little bundle, with a tiny, bald head and dinky feet, you have all grown up into little individuals, with your own will and a strong character. Don’t you ever let any photographer tell you what to do! If you don’t want to smile, don’t. If you want to eat a biscuit half way through the session, do it. If you want to pee on their paper backdrop, go for it. The world truly is your oyster.  🙂

It always makes me feel old to get a message from parents saying they’d love to book a sitters session for their little ones. “I have only just seen them for their newborn session!” Time most certainly flies, when you are looking at your kids, and since I consider all the models that walked through my door “my kids”, I get bombarded with the reminders of how fast it does actually fly, every single day.

There is a beautiful song I’d like to share with you, by Lee Ann Womack, and I don’t think I could put it better, so in her words, here’s what I wish you all, my beautiful babies <3

“I Hope You Dance”

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance….I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)